The Righteousness of God is Revealed

This meditation is based on a passage for March 22, 2011 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Romans 1:16-25

Reflection and Question: The first chapter of Romans is one of those sections of Scripture that I often perceive as being used to judge lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. As with any individual verse, here, it is important to remember the whole sweep of Paul’s preaching so as not to “lose the forest for the trees.” Thus is it well that we will dwell on Paul’s argument at the start of Romans today and for the next two days. Paul’s overall point is that God is the only righteous One, and God embraces the faithful, both Jew and Greek. He contrasts this with the ungodly, by first naming Gentiles, who choose to worship lesser beings, even though they know the true God. When do you exchange God for images?

Prayer: Most righteous God, we confess all those times we impatiently wish church would end so that we can get home to watch our favorite team (whether football, basketball, baseball, NASCAR or other). Forgive our fixation on mortal beings. Amen.